“Batman: Arkham Origins” Game Hits In October

Following the release of DC Comics and Rocksteady Studios “Batman: Arkham City” video game in 2010, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the studio planned to revisit the franchise, teasing “Batman: Arkham World” in an animated acceptance speech at the Spike TV Video Game Awards in 2011 and rumors of the studio developing a prequel game featuring the Justice League.

The rumors of the “Arkham” franchises return are, in fact true — but while the game series will get another installment October 25, it will be without Rocksteady Studios. Game Informer revealed its May cover featuring “Batman: Arkham Origins” with concept art of both Batman and Deathstroke the Terminator making his first “Arkham” series appearance, and that Warner Bros. Games Montreal has taken over the franchise from Rocksteady and has full access to the studios modified Unreal engine used to create “Batman: Arkham Asylum” and “Batman: Arkham City.” The game is headed up by creative director Eric Holmes, who served as lead designer for “Prototype” and also wrote the IDW miniseries “Transformers: Megatron Origin.”

As the name implies, “Batman: Arkham Origins” takes place before “Batman: Arkham Asylum” when eight of the worlds greatest assassins come to Gotham City on Christmas Eve to kill Batman.

The change in studio isnt the only major shift from the past two “Arkham” installments — its already been revealed that Paul Dini, who wrote the story for both “Arkham” games, didnt plan to come back for a third time. Game Informer also reports that Warner Bros. Games Montreal will simultaneously release a handheld version of the game called “Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate” for 3DS and PlayStation Vita.